- Status: Orange.
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Live stream via Telecafe:
Weather permitting. Also, here are links to still-image webcams, public data, and other information.
- Interactive official hazard map (autotranslated), via Relief Web; En español
- Update archive.
Update, June 26, 9:30 a.m., Pacific: I was tempted to not do a daily update today, after Dr. Makario Londoño’s reported (autotranslated) weekend comments about it being closer to YELLOW than to ORANGE currently.
But:
- They’re keeping it at ORANGE.
- It’s Nevado del Ruiz, a tricky yet proven mass murderer.
- [LAYPERSON SPECULATION]I saw what might have been tornillos (jargon alert), only without the long coda, on the helicorders overnight.[/LAYPERSON SPECULATION]
- Some ashfall was reported, per today’s bulletin (emphasis in the original):
Manizales, June 26, 2023 11:05 a.m.
From the monitoring of the activity of the NEVADO DEL RUIZ VOLCANO, the MINISTRY OF MINES AND ENERGY through the COLOMBIAN GEOLOGICAL SERVICE (SGC) informs that:
From 9:00 a.m. from yesterday (June 25) until the time of publication of this bulletin, the activity of the volcano continued to show low levels with minor variations in most of the monitored parameters.
Regarding the seismic activity related to the movement of fluids inside the volcanic conduits, there was a slight increase in the number of earthquakes and in the seismic energy released compared to the previous day (June 24). Some of the seismic signals were associated with pulsatile ash emissions confirmed via web cameras used for volcano monitoring.
In the same way, seismic activity was recorded related to rock fracturing inside the volcanic structure with similar levels in the number of registered earthquakes and seismic energy released, compared to June 24. The earthquakes were located mainly in the eastern sector of the volcano, at a distance between 1 and 5 km from the crater. The magnitudes of the earthquakes continue being low and their depths ranged between 2 and 4 km.
Regarding the column of gases and/or ash, the maximum vertical height observed was 700 m and in dispersion of 1100 m measured from the top of the volcano. dispersal direction. The preferential position of the column was towards the northwest of the volcano. Yesterday, in the afternoon, it was received report of slight ash fall in the municipality of Manizales (Caldas).
Additionally, variations persist in the degassing of sulfur dioxide and in the output of water vapor from the crater into the atmosphere. Due to the cloudy conditions in the area there have been no reports of thermal anomalies at the bottom of the Arenas crater in recent days, but this does not mean that they are not still present.
In recent weeks the activity of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano has begun to decrease. Although in the last week it had an increase compared to the previous ones, the volcano is showing signs possible stability reflected in the low activity in recent days. However, still it could make a major eruption in days or weeks. As we have mentioned, on previous occasions, after presenting important changes in its activity, the volcano Nevado del Ruiz has shown a decrease in its activity before a major eruption. That is to say, first it registers a strong increase in its activity, then a considerable decrease and, subsequently, it has a major eruption.
Therefore, we reiterate that the activity of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano continues at ORANGE LEVEL, which indicates that there is a probability that in days or weeks there will be a larger eruption than it has made in the last 11 years (May 29, 2012 was the first minor eruption of this volcano had in its most recent eruptive process).
To change level and return to Yellow, a prudential time is required where you can observe trends and patterns that allow inferring the possible decrease in activity, aspects which the volcano is already showing, although a little more time is required to make the decision to go down a level. For this reason, following the precautionary principle, the level of activity of the volcano Nevado del Ruiz will remain at ORANGE LEVEL. During this time, in case it produces an acceleration of the processes that suggest an imminent eruption or that the eruption itself occurs, the activity level will be changed to Red.
We recommend that the community remain calm, follow all the instructions of the Unit National for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) and local authorities, and be attentive to the information provided by the Colombian Geological Service on the evolution of the state of the volcano.
The COLOMBIAN GEOLOGICAL SERVICE will continue to monitor the evolution of the volcanic phenomenon and will inform in a timely manner about the changes that may occur.
For more information visit the following link:
https://www2.sgc.gov.co/Noticias/boletinesDocumentos/Forms/AllItems.aspx
Featured image: Ric Photography/Shutterstock
Flight To Wonder 